Finance
People from all walks of life celebrated Nuakhai, the agrarian festival, with zeal and zest today in western Odisha.
Nuakhai is observed to welcome the season’s new rice. During Nuakhai celebrations, people in the region worship their presiding deities in gratitude for bumper crops, good rain, and favorable weather for farming activities.
On the occasion, all family members sit and eat together, and people who work outside also visit their homes to celebrate the festival.
Today, between 10:56 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. (lagna), the first harvested crop was offered to goddess Samaleswari in Sambalpur.
The festival preparations begin at least 15 days in advance. Nuakhai is thought to have nine colors, so nine sets of rituals are performed as a prelude to the actual day of celebration. The houses are cleaned, new clothes are purchased, and everyone is dressed to the nines on the big day.
Nuakhai is observed not only in Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, and Boudh, but also in other parts of Jharkhand. Nuakhai is frequently compared to Tamil Nadu’s Onam, which is also a harvest festival. Because India is an agricultural country, this is hugely important for the agricultural community.
